Sanitary evacuation apparatus for wash basins and the like

ABSTRACT

A sanitary evacuation apparatus comprises a casing having an inlet in the upper part, an outlet in a lower part, and a removably closed opening in a lateral part. An immersion tube extends downwardly from the inlet into a tiltably mounted openended collecting vessel of asymmetric shape. External actuating members mounted on shafts extending through walls of the casing are keyed to one end of the open end of the vessel for tipping the vessel between a position in which said open end is horizontal whereby the vessel retains liquid to cover the lower end of said immersion tube to form a gas seal, a fully tipped position in which said open end of the vessel is inclined towards said outlet for the evacuation of liquid, and an intermediate tipped position in which said open end of the vessel is inclined to permit removal through said opening of objects in the vessel.

United States Patent [191 Chantrieux Oct. 28, 1975 SANITARY EVACUATION APPARATUS FOR WASH BASINS AND THE LIKE [76] Inventor: Jacques Chantrieux, 197, avenue de [30] Foreign Application Priority Data Primary Examiner1-lenry T. Klinksiek Attorney, Agent, or FirmRobert E. Burns; Emmanuel J. Lobato; Bruce L. Adams [5 7] ABSTRACT A sanitary evacuation apparatus comprises a casing having an inlet in the upper part, an outlet in a lower part, and a removably closed opening in a lateral part.

An immersion tube extends downwardly from the inlet into a tiltably mounted open-ended collecting vessel of asymmetric shape. External actuating members mounted on shafts extending through walls of the casing are keyed to one end of the open end of the vessel for tipping the vessel between a position in which said open end is horizontal whereby the vessel retains liquid to cover the lower end of said immersion tube to form a gas seal, a fully tipped position in which said open end of the vessel is inclined towards said outlet for the evacuation of liquid, and an intermediate tipped position in which said open end of the vessel is inclined to permit removal through said opening of objects in the vessel.

5 Claims, 16 Drawing Figures US. Patent Oct.28, 1975 Sheet2of4 3,915,190

Sheet 3 of4 3,915,190

US. Patent Oct. 28, 1975 US. Patent Oct. 28, 1975 Sheet4of4 3,915,190

Fig.5

SANITARY EVACUATION APPARATUS FOR WASH BASINS AND THE LIKE The invention relates to sanitary evacuation apparatus forming a drain siphon for washbasins and the like,

. of the type comprising a casing having an inlet in the upper part of the casing, an outlet in-a lower lateral part of the casing, an opening in another lower lateral part of the casing, a removable closure for said opening, a tiltable open-ended collecting vessel in said casing under said opening, an immersion tube extending downwardly from said inlet into said collecting vessel, an external actuating member mounted on shaft means extending through a wall of the casing and cooperating with means on the vessel for tipping said vessel between an upright position in which said open end is generally horizontal and said vessel retains liquid to cover the lower end of said immersion tube to form a gas seal, a first tipped position in which said open end of the vessel is inlined generally towards said outlet for the evacuation of liquid, and a second tipped position in which said open end of the vessel is inclined and directed generally towards said opening to permit removal through said opening of objects accumulated in said vessel.

An object of the invention is to simplify the tipping movement of the vessel between its three positions and to simplify the control means and enable reduction of the manufacturing cost while facilitating manoeuvre.

The invention therefore proposes the improvement wherein said vessel is tippable from its upright position in one direction only and said second tipped position is an inclined position intermediate of said upright position and said first tipped position, said means on the vessel mounts the vessel for rotation with said shaft about the axis of said shaft, and said axis is adjacent to one lateral edge and to said open end of the vessel.

Since tilting of the vessel takes place in only one direction, the parts required for producing the tilting movement can be simpler and more robust than in known devices, which enables the production of a reliable device whose performance complies to stipulations.

The invention will be well understood from the following description of preferred embodiments made with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a sanitary evacuation device according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-section taken along line lI-II of FIG. 3;

FIG. 3 is a cross-section taken along line III-III of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a side elevation of a lateral face of the empty casing of the device;

FIG. 5 is a side elevation of an opposite lateral face of the empty casing;

FIG. 6 is a cross-section taken along line VI-VI of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a plan view of an actuating button;

FIG. 8 shows a return spring;

FIG. 9 shows a washer adapted to be mounted in an actuating button;

FIG. 10 shows a spring adapted to cooperate with the washer of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is an elevational view of the pivoting shaft of the vessel;

FIGS. 12, 13 and 14 are schematic views showing the relative position of parts of an actuating button when the vessel is respectively in the upright, second and first inclined positions; and

FIGS. 15 and 16 show a varied form of positioning spring.

The evacuating apparatus comprises (FIGS. 1, 2 and 3) a generally rectangular casing 1 with an open face which is closed by a cover 2 provided with a sealing 10 joint and secured by means of screws 10. The upper face of casing 1 has an externally threaded inlet sleeve 3 in which isfitted an immersion tube 5 extending into casing 1. An outlet sleeve 4 is provided at a lower, front end of casing 1, and circular recuperation orifices 6 are provided in the upper front parts of the opposed lateral faces of the casing. Tube 5 is connected by means of a nut 11 and a cooperating telescopic tube 12 to the plug hole of a sanitary installation such as a wash basin.

Inside casing l is mounted a tippable vessel 7, pivotally mounted by means of two aligned shafts 8,8 passing through opening 16 in the lateral walls of the casing, said shafts 8,8 each being fixed to a respective external actuating button 9,9. Joining of vessel 7' to shafts 8,8 for rotation together is provided by complementary interengaging parts on the lateral walls square, the vessel and on the inner ends of the shafts. In the illustrated embodiment, the inner end of shaft 8 (FIG. 11) is provided with a transverse groove defining parallel flats 8c, and a cylindrical bore 8a opening into the groove, the end of the shaft fitting in a complementary boss 13 on vessel 7, boss 13 including a recess with two plane parallel faces and rounded ends, and a central cylindrical projection 13a. The illustrated shape of these complementary male and female parts is not limiting, but could be square, oval, or otherwise. The outer end of shaft 8 is provided with a square head 8b which fits in a corresponding opening 14 of the respective actuating button 9,9. The assembly of buttons 9,9, shafts 8,8 and vessel 7 is achieved by means of screws 15 screwed centrally into bosses 13.

The vessel 7 has a specially designed asymmetric shape to allow an effective evacuation of used water as well as easy recuperation of objects which may fall in the vessel, Accordingly, the bottom of the vessel has a lower rounded part 7a extended on one side by a planar substantially vertical (in the upright position) wall 7b and on its other side by an inclined planar wall 7c extending up to an evacuation edge, this wall 7c being such that when the vessel is in the recuperation position it is inclined by a small acute angle to the horizontal lower wall of casing 1, upwardly towards sleeve 4, to prevent an object in the vessel which would be large enough to obstruct the sleeve 4 from passing into sleeve 4 but may be removed from the recuperation orifice 6. The axis of pivoting of vessel 7 is in the upper part thereof in the proximity of wall 7b (i.e. removed from the evacuating edge) in .a manner to allow tipping of the vessel in a restrained space, while allowing the inside of the vessel to be accessible in the recuperation position through the recuperation orifices 6. A projection 33 is also provided on the upper edge of vessel 7 to abut against the inner wall of casing 1, or a projection on this wall, to limit pivoting of the vessel whereby its upper edge is held horizontal in the upright or normal use position, FIG. 1. I a

The mechanism for tipping the vessel includes a positioning device and a biasing mechanism for returning it to the normal use position. The positioning device is mounted in the 'first actuating button 9, and the biasing mechanism in the secondactuatingbutton9'.

The positioning device comprises a flat spring 17 (FIG. 10) with a squarecentral opening l8 which fits on shaft 8, and which includes two symmetrically dis posed spiroidal arms l9 each terminating with a curved of a circle whereby they are in the' trajectory of the ends 20 of spring 17 as the latter-turns. The lugs 22 are disposed in the gap comprised between the first pair of bosses 23,23 and the'second pair 24,24, this gap accommodating lug 22 with play. The third pair of bosses 25,25 is situated on the other side of the first pair of bosses 23,23 whose] faces l directed towards bosses 25,25 are provided with ramps 26,26 whereas their opposite faces'26 -'are not inclined but form abutments.

This device operates as follows. In the normal use position of the evacuator (FIG. 12), the end 20 of spring 17 which is angularly fixed relative to vessel 7 by the square 8b of shalft 8, is at rest in the gap between boss 25 and boss 23.

In the recuperatiori'position (FIG. 13) the rotation of button 9 has broughtabout a rotation of spring 17 which, after having slid overthe bosses 23,23 of the casing turns the washer 21 in the same direction until lug 22 bears against boss 24, which results in a gap being left between boss 23 and mg 22 in which gap the end 20 of'spring comes to lodge. The vessel 7 is held in this position under the effect of the biasing device and the curved end 20 of spring 17 which prevents it from passing back over boss 23. I

In the evacuation position (FIG. 14), by further rotation of button 9, the end 20 of spring 17 leaves the said gap and slides over lug 22. If the button is thenreleased, the assembly of vessel 7,button 9, shaft 8 and spring 17 moves back to its initial position under the The biasing device (FIGS. 5,7 and 8) mounted in button 9' comprises a looped biasing spring 27 terminated by two straight ends 28'and 29. End 28 is fixed in an appropriate slot 30 in the outer face of casing 1, and end 29 is fixed in a corresponding slot 31 in a handle 32* of button '9. The evacuation position of vessel 7 is limited by abutment of the vessel against the botton of casing 1, or its-rear wall, or, as shown, both.

The recuperation orifices 6 are' removably closed by caps 34 with a fluid-tightbayonet fitting. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a membranevalve 35 is mounted in cover 20f the casing to=avoid the gurgling noises accompanying the emptying'of wash basins and sinks. I

FIGS. and 16 illustrate another embodiment of positioning spring 36 comprising an annular part 37 provided with two diametrically opposed protuberances '38 formed by embossment, and -an" 'einbossed diametral rib 39 transverse to and embossed in the opposite direction to protuberances 38. A square opening 40 formed in rib 39 is fitted 'on the square head 85 of shaft 8. The protuberances 38 have the same function as the curved ends 20 of spring 17 of the first embodiment. I

In a simpler embodiment, the means for locking in the recuperation position is dispensed with but replaced by click or det'ent means whereby the user can feel and thus easily locate this position! To this end, the bosses 23,23 include two'oppositely-inclined symmetrical ramps 26,260 meeting along a raised center-line of each boss. I-Ience,'in the recuperation position, the

rotation of button 9 drives spring 17 whose end 20, after having slid over the first ramp 26 arrives on the second ramp 26a, the passage'over the raised centerline producing a slight click which indicates to the user that the vessel is in the recuperation position. If the but-. ton 9 is released in this position, the vessel returns automatically t0 the initial rest position under the action of spring 27. i

This embodiment has the advantage that the user cannot inadvertently'leave the vessel in the recuperation position. Also, in this embodiment, washer 21 can be dispensed with.

In an even further simplified embodiment, the positioningmeans may be dispensed with whereby, to recuperate an object, the user can simply hold the vessel in an inclined intermediate position against the action of the biasing spring.

What-is claimed is:

1. In a sanitary evacuation apparatus comprising, a casing having an inlet in the upper part of the casing, an outlet in a lower lateral part of the casing, an opening in another lower lateral part of the casing, a removable closure for said opening, a tiltable open-ended collecting vessel in said casing under said opening, an immersion tube extending downwardly from said inlet into said collecting vessel, means comprising an external actuating member and a shaft mounting said actuating member and extending through a wall of the casing and cooperating with means on the vessel for tipping said vessel between an upright position in which said open end is generally horizontal and said vessel retains liquid to cover the lower end of said immersion tube to form a gas seal, a first tipped position inwhich said open end of the vessel is inclined generally towards said outlet for the evacuation of liquid, and a second tipped position in which said open end of the vessel is inclined and directed generally towards said opening to permit removal through said opening of objects accumulated in saidvessel, the improvement wherein said vessel is tippable from its upright position in one direction only and said second tipped position is an inclined position intermediate of said upright position and said first tipped position, said means on the vessel mounting the vessel for rotation with said shaft about the axis of said shaft, said axis is adjacent to one lateral. edge and to said open end of the vessel, spring means for biasing the .vessel towards said upright position, positioning means including first, second and third bosses on said casing, a substantially flat spring fixed transverse to said shaft for rotation therewith, and said flat spring including at least one protuberance cooperating with said first,,sec-

0nd and third bosses on said casing at locationscorreraised edge.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1, in which said positioning means further includes a washer freely mounted for rotation about said shaft, said washer having at least one lug disposed with play between said second and third bosses to limit rotation of said washer, said washer being frictionally engaged with said flat spring rotation therewith within the limits defined by said second and third bosses, said bosses and said lug being located along an arcuate path described by said protuberance of said spring, the face of said second boss directed towards said first boss having an inclined ramp and its face directed towards said third boss forming an abutment, said protuberance of said flat spring being adapted to lodge between said second boss and said lug against said abutment when said actuating member is turned to move the vessel from the upright position to said second inclined position whereby the vessel is held in said second position by the action of said biasing means, and said protuberance of said flat spring is to slide over and frictionally engage with said lug when said actuating member is turned to move the vessel from said second position towards said first position whereby upon releasing said member the vessel is returned to said upright position by said biasing means.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3, in which said positioning means includes pair of diametrically opposed first, second and third bosses on said casing at said location said washer includes a pair of diametrically opposed lugs, and said fiat spring includes a pair of diametrically opposed protuberances.

5. Apparatus according to claim 1, in which said substantially flat spring comprises an annulus having a pair diametrically disposed embossments on one face thereof and a diametral rib transverse to said embossments and embossed on the other face of said annulus,

said rib including an aperture keyed on said shaft.

=l l l 

1. In a sanitary evacuation apparatus comprising, a casing having an inlet in the upper part of the casing, an outlet in a lower lateral part of the casing, an opening in another lower lateral part of the casing, a removable closure for said opening, a tiltable open-ended collecting vessel in said casing under said opening, an immersion tube extending downwardly from said inlet into said collecting vessel, means comprising an external actuating member and a shaft mounting said actuating member and extending through a wall of the casing and cooperating with means on the vessel for tipping said vessel between an upright position in which said open end is generally horizontal and said vessel retains liquid to cover the lower end of said immersion tube to form a gas seal, a first tipped position in which said open end of the vessel is inclined generally towards said outlet for the evacuation of liquid, and a second tipped position in which said open end of the vessel is inclined and directed generally towards said opening to permit removal through said opening of objects accumulated in said vessel, the improvement wherein said vessel is tippable from its upright position in one direction only and said second tipped position is an inclined position intermediate of said upright position and said first tipped position, said means on the vessel mounting the vessel for rotation with said shaft about the axis of said shaft, said axis is adjacent to one lateral edge and to said open end of the vessel, spring means for biasing the vessel towards said upright position, positioning means including first, second and third bosses on said casing, a substantially flat spring fixed transverse to said shaft for rotation therewith, and said flat spring including at least one protuberance cooperating with said first, second and third bosses on said casing at locations corresponding respectively to said upright, second and first inclined postions of the vessel.
 2. Apparatus according to claim 1, in which said second boss has oppositely inclined ramp surfaces meeting along a raised edge, said protuberance on said flat spring being adapted to produce a click as it passes said raised edge.
 3. Apparatus according to claim 1, in which said positioning means further includes a washer freely mounted for rotation about said shaft, said washer having at least one lug disposed with play between said second and third bosses to limit rotation of said washer, said washer being frictionally engaged with said flat spring rotation therewith within the limits defined by said second and third bosses, said bosses and said lug being located along an arcuate path described by said protuberance of said spring, the face of said second boss directed towards said first boss having an inclined ramp and its face directed towards said third boss fOrming an abutment, said protuberance of said flat spring being adapted to lodge between said second boss and said lug against said abutment when said actuating member is turned to move the vessel from the upright position to said second inclined position whereby the vessel is held in said second position by the action of said biasing means, and said protuberance of said flat spring is to slide over and frictionally engage with said lug when said actuating member is turned to move the vessel from said second position towards said first position whereby upon releasing said member the vessel is returned to said upright position by said biasing means.
 4. Apparatus according to claim 3, in which said positioning means includes pair of diametrically opposed first, second and third bosses on said casing at said location said washer includes a pair of diametrically opposed lugs, and said flat spring includes a pair of diametrically opposed protuberances.
 5. Apparatus according to claim 1, in which said substantially flat spring comprises an annulus having a pair diametrically disposed embossments on one face thereof and a diametral rib transverse to said embossments and embossed on the other face of said annulus, said rib including an aperture keyed on said shaft. 